Suspension frame for shelves



July 17, 1951 o. H. LUNDQVIST SUSPENSION FRAME FOR SHELVES Filed April '13, 1948 Ha ATTORNE/Y Patented July 17, 1951 SUSPENSION FRAME FOR. SHELVES Oskar Harald Lundqvist,Stockho1m, Sweden Application April 13, 1948, Serial No. 20,775 In Sweden May 12, 1947 Claims. (01. 211 -147) This invention relates to suspension frames for supporting one or more shelves or trays adjustably in height, particularly to frames for supporting wall shelves.

Frames of the general type, above referred to,

may be used to support books, utensils and other items. The variety in size and shape of such items makes it frequently desirable to adjust the spacing of the shelves according to the particular items placed upon the shelves.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel and improved suspension frame which permits a convenient, rapid and simple adjustment in height of the shelf positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved shelf suspension frame which is light and inexpensive to manufacture, sturdy in design and unobtrusive in appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved shelf suspension frame which can be conveniently assembled and disassembled without requiring the use of tools.

Another more specific object of the invention, allied with the preceding one, is to provide a novel suspension frame permitting adjustment and removal of individual shelves without requiring removal or displacement of other shelves.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and appear in the appended claims forming part of the application.

' 'In the accompanying drawing a now preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of three suspension frames according to the invention for supporting shelves.

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side View of a suspension frame and a shelf on an enlar ed scale.

Fig. 4 is a section along line 4-4 of Fig, 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front view of a suspension frame according to the invention and of a shelf suspended thereon, and

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a component part 'of a suspension frame according to the invention.

Referring now to the figures in detail, a suspension frame according to the invention comprises two vertical frame members I mounted spaced apart. The frame members may be fastened to a wall or arranged as posts supported on a suitable base. For purpose of reinforcement, the fram members may be connected by crossbars. The frame members serve to support one or more shelves or trays, three shelves 2 being shown. Each shelf can be suspended in a selected height by means of a pair of support members 3 and a pair of suspension members 4. Suspension member 4 is shown as a U-shaped hook. The arm 4aof each hook is inserted in a selected one of a row of holes 5 in the frame members I. These holes are provided in the frame members on the sides thereof facing each other. Th second arm 41) of each hook supports one of the support members 3. These support members are shown as consisting of a comparatively stiff wire made of metal or other suitable material and bent to form an acute angle. The branch 3a of the wire is extended toward the front edge of a shelf 2 to be suspended and bent off near its end toward the shelf. The bent-off portions 31) of the wire extends slightly upwardly relative to the plane of a shelf and is inserted into a corresponding hole in the side edge of the shelf near the front edge 6 thereof. The second branch 30 of the wire is also bent off toward the shelf and the slightly upwardly turned wire portion id is inserted into a corresponding hole in the side edge of the shelf near the rear edge 1 thereof.

Each shelf is suspended on and between the frame members by slipping the respective wires over the arms 4b of hooks 4 so that the wires rest with their apex portions upon arms 4b and the frame members engage corresponding recesses 2' in the shelves. For th purpose of securing wires and with them the shelves in their suspended positions on the hooks, hook arms 4b are each provided with a groove 9 corresponding in cross-section and diameter to the cross-sections of the apex portions of the wires so that the grooves will receive the wires partly or completely.

The wires and with them the shelves are further secured in their respective positions by pro-,'' viding in each frame member I a longitudinal groove III also corresponding in cross-section and diameter to the wires. As can best be seen in Fig. 3, branch or shank 3c of each wire is so shaped that it is substantially parallel to the respective frame member when supporting the shelf. As a result, each branch 3cis received by the respective groove thereby preventing a swinging or rocking of the shelves about their suspension points.

In certain instances, it is desirable to provide two or more rows of shelves in alignment. This can be conveniently accomplished by providing each frame member with a second parallel groove H and a second row of holes 5' as indicated in Fig. 4. The two rows of holes 5 and 5' are shown as separate holes but it is of course also quite of the respective holes in the shelves and removing the hooks from holes 5. I

By inserting the support wires into theside edges of the shelves and bending the wire ends slightly upwardly, the shelves will be safely supported by the wires even though'the wire ends are not tightly fixed in the shelf holes.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a certain now preferred example and embodiment of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the artafter understanding the invention, that ,Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a suspension frame for supporting shelves adjustably in height, the combination of a pair of spaced elongated frame members having longitudinally spaced holes therein facing each other, a pair of support wires each bent to form two shanks defining an angle therebetween, one end of each wire secured to a shelf near one edge thereof and the other end of each wire secured near the other edge of the shelf, and a pair of substantially U-shaped suspension members, one arm of each of the said members engageable with a selected one of said spaced holes, the other arm supporting a respective one of said wires at the apex portion thereof, one of the shanks of each wire abutting against the side'of the respective frame member facing a supported shelf.

Y 2. In a suspension frame for supporting shelves adjustably in height, the combination of a pair of spaced elongated frame members having longitudinally spaced holes therein facing each other, a pair of substantially U-shaped suspension members, one arm of each of said members engageable with a selected one of said spaced holes, and a pair of support wires each bent to form two shanks defining an acute angle therebetween, one end of each wire engaging a lateral opening in a shelf to be supported near the edge thereof adjacent to the said frame members and the other end of each wire engaging a second lateral shelf opening near the other edge of the shelf, each of said wires resting with its apex portion upon the second arm of a respective one of said suspension members and with one of its shanks against the side of the respective frame member facing a supported shelf.

3. A suspension frame as described in claim 2, wherein said second arm of each suspension member arm is provided with a groove shaped end positioned to receive the said apex portion of a wire for securing the respective wires in their positions on the said arms.

4. In a suspension frame for supporting shelves adjustably in height, the combination of a pair of spaced elongated frame members having longitudinally spaced holes therein facing each other, a pair of substantially U-shaped suspension members, one arm of each of said members engageable with a selected one of said spaced holes, and a pair of support wires each bent to form' two shanks defining an acute angle therebetween; one end of each wire secured to a shelf near the edge thereof adjacent to the said frame members and the other end of each Wire secured near the other edge of the shelf, each of said wires resting with its apex portion upon the second arm of a respective one of said suspension members, each of said. wires bent to have one of its shanks disposed substantially parallel to the respective frame members when secured to a shelf and suspended 0n the frame members, each of said frame members having in its side facing a supported shelf a longitudinal groove positioned to receive said parallel wire shank for securing-the respective wire in its suspended position. v

5. A suspension frame as described in claim 4, wherein said frame members include longitudinally spaced holes in two opposite sides and two parallel longitudinal grooves in an intermediate si e. OSKAR HARALD LUNDQVIST,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record'in th file of this patent: 

